The Celtics prevail 139-96, Banchero beaten in Philadelphia while Fontecchio is not even on the bench
In the night Nba, Boston overwhelms Brooklyn: ends 139-96 for the Celtics. Utah supera 131-128 toronto ma Simone Fontecchio is not even on the bench, while Philadelphia takes revenge on the Magic of Paolo Banchero and wins 105-94. Pardon Golden State e Memphis, respectively against Minnesota (119-114 in overtime) and Portland (122-112), Phoenix clearly beaten at home by Atlanta (132-100). Sacramento ok to San Antonio (119-109).
BOSTON CELTICS-BROOKLYN NETS 139-96
Boston exaggerates and overwhelms Brooklyn 139-96 in a match closed already at the end of the first quarter, when the Celtics are even on +30 (46-16). The match goes by without the possibility of a comeback for the Nets, with the reigning runners-up increasing their advantage by closing with a very heavy +43. For Jayson Tatum there are 31 points with 9 rebounds and a sensational 7/12 from the arc, the same average as Jalen Brown who scores 26. The best for Brooklyn is Kyrie Irving, but the great ex still doesn’t go beyond 20 points with 9/18 from the field. Second win in a row for the Celtics, first in the East with a 37-15 record, while the Nets remain fourth at 31-20.
PHILADELPHIA 76ERS-ORLANDO MAGIC 105-94
Philadelphia avenges 119-109 in favor of Orlando and after 72 hours wins 105-94, resuming the run-up in Boston and Milwaukee. The Sixers immediately fly to +14, but the Magic go back to one possession behind at the long interval (56-53). So a last quarter of 23-16 is needed to get the better of Banchero and his companions, with the blue who this time does not go beyond 13 points with 9 rebounds and a non-positive 5/18 from the field. The best for the Magic is Fultz (18), but Philadelphia is led by Joel Embiid and James Harden, both in double-doubles with 28 and 16 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists, respectively. Orlando remains third last in the Eastern Conference with a 20-32 record.
UTAH JAZZ-TORONTO RAPTORS 131-128
Utah wins but Simone Fontecchio is not even on the bench. The other Italian protagonist is therefore an added spectator in the Jazz’s 131-128 against the Raptors, who collapse despite VanVleet’s triple double (34 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists). Leading the hosts are Markkanen and Clarkson, who score 28 and 23 points respectively, with the Finn also adding 13 rebounds and finishing with 4/9 from the arc and 7/13 shooting. With this success, Utah rises to eighth place in the Western Conference at a minimum distance from Golden State, while in Eastern Toronto it collects the third knockout in the last four games and remains out of the play-in area.
MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLFS-GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS 119-114
Overtime still indigestible for the Warriors, who lose 119-114 in Minnesota in 53 minutes and after the 110-110 for the Timberwolves, who have the merit of recovering -9 in the third period thanks to a 28-17 lead in the last quarter. All despite Steph Curry’s double-double of 29 points and 10 rebounds, who finishes with 5 triples. To drag the landlords is a relentless D’Angelo Russell from the arc: 7/17 and 29 total points, while they are 27 for Edwards. In addition to the Mvp of the last Finals, there are six in double figures, but they are not enough for Kerr’s team, which slips to seventh place overtaken by Minnesota, currently in the playoff zone in the Western Conference.
MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES-PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS 112-122
Memphis loses at home: the Grizzlies surrender 122-112 to Portland, driven by a super Damian Lillard who scores 42 points and 10 assists, going within two rebounds of the double-double and with a fabulous 5/13 from the arc. Therefore, Ja Morant’s 32 with 12 assists and 9 rebounds are not enough, given that the Blazers pull off a last quarter from +16 (38-22) and overturn the hosts. In the Western Conference, the Grizzlies remain second but with a 32-19 record, three games behind leaders Denver. Portland, on the other hand, rises to a 25-26 record and is ever closer to the play-in area: it is 25-26 against the 26-26 of the tenth place occupied by the Pelicans.
SAN ANTONIO SPURS-SACRAMENTO KINGS 109-119
Outside hit from Sacramento, which surpasses San Antonio 119-109 and approaches second place in the Western Conference. The Kings won 119-109 thanks to Sabonis’ 34 points with 11 rebounds, who finishes with a sensational 75% from the field (15/20), helped by another double-double: that of Fox, at 31 with 10 assists . For Popovich’s team, however, the best is Branham, while Richardson closes at 19 and Johnson and Poeltl at 18, with the only Austrian in the team in double-double with 12 rebounds. In the Western Conference, the Kings are now on a 29-21 record versus 32-19 in second-placed Memphis but with one game left. San Antonio has won only one of its last 13 games: last place (14-38 by the Rockets against 13-38 by Popovich’s team) is very close.
PHOENIX SUNS-ATLANTA HAWKS 100-132
Very bad defeat for Phoenix, overwhelmed 132-100 at home by Atlanta. Mortgaged match between the second and third periods for the Hawks, who trim an overall 76-44 to the Suns thanks also to the 21 points of Dejounte Murray and the double-double (20 with 12 assists) of Trae Young, who does not miss from the arc (3/3). Bridges’ 23 and Ayton’s 20 are not enough for the hosts, given that the only ones to go into double figures are Saric (11) and Lee (10). Phoenix suffers the engagement of Utah in eighth place with 27-26 and fails to overtake Golden State, while in the Eastern Conference the Hawks equalize the record (26-26) and are in the full play-in area.
HOUSTON ROCKETS-OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER 112-106
Just Houston beats Okc 112-106 and approaches the Spurs: second defeat in a row for the Thunder, who lose despite the 28-17 in the third quarter and the 24 points of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The Rockets start strong (+11 at the end of the first period), but need 28-20 in the last 12 minutes to bring home victory number 13 in the Regular Season. Gordon is top scorer with 25 points, while Eason closes in double-double with 20 points and 13 rebounds. For Oklahoma it is the third knockout in the last four games: the Western Conference play-in zone is still two wins away.
